Adjustable lock



Aug. 17, 1937. E. J. PILBLAD ADJUSTABLE LOCK File'd July 12, 19.34

3 v 3 WW ...T. J m W z. w {A H I II 6 wa w m 2 H E H m 2 1? Z 0 UM W :3 m W @Y 5 0. a 2 IL 5 Patented Aug. 17, 1937 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE LOCK Eric J. Pilblad, Bockvllle Centre, N. Y.

Application July 12, 1934, Serial No. 734,812 4 Claims. (Cl. 248-161) This invention relates to locking devices, and more particularly to a locking device adapted for, quick release whereby a pair of telescopically orl similarly arranged parts may be readily adjusted.

It has heretofore been proposed to employ a locking plate held in tilted relation to a rod extending therethrough to hold said rod and locking plate 'or the frame on which the latter is mounted against movement relative to one another. The structures of this nature heretofore provided have, however, proved unsuccessful commercially because of the diiiiculty encountered in assembly and disassembly of the parts, the same being ordinarily assembled in a permanent manner, and because of the unsightly appearance of the devices made necessary by the constructions employed.

One of the objects of the present invention is therefore to provide a novel locking device of the above character which is so constructed as to overcome the above difliculties and disadvantages, said device being adapted for quick release whereby adjustments may be readily made.

Another object is to provide a friction locking device which is so constructed as to be capable of ready installation on existing structures employing relatively movable members, and adapted for quick adjustment.

A further object is to provide novel releasable means for normally looking a pair of members against relative movement, which may be readily and inexpensively manufactured, the same comprising a relatively small number of parts which may be compactly and neatly assembled by any ordinary mechanic.

The above and further objects and novel features of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and is not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had primarily to the appended claims for this purpose.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views,

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section and with parts broken away, of one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, illustrating the installation of the device of Fig, 1 on a microphone stand;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig.5 is a view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a housing member employed in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is suitable for display fixtures, microphone mountings, etc., wherein an extensible structure is ordinarily employed, said structure comprising a pair of telescopic members, which members may be normally locked against relative movement by the novel means herein shown, and which may be quickly and easily released for adjustment or movement relative to one another. The construction contemplated by the present invention is compact and has a neat, pleasing appearance, the preferred embodiment of the same, as shown in Fig. 1, comprising a tubular member or support l0 and a rod H, which may also be tubular, adapted to slide therein.

Novel means are provided for holding member Ill and rod ll against movement relative to one another and for quickly adjusting the position of said rod relative to said member, which means in the form shown are constituted by a shell or housing member I! suitably. secured as by means of screw threads to tube ID, a portion of said shell being enlarged to form an annular shoulder l3. A cut-away portion or longitudinal slot ll in the wall of shell l2 extends downwardly from the upper edge thereof for a portion of the length of said shell. A cover l5,

' provided with an opening l6 for rod I I, is adapted to surround shell 12, the same being held in position by crimping the lower edge thereof over shoulder 13 of said shell. Cover i5 is also provided with a longitudinal slot I! in the wall thereof, which slot is preferably somewhat wider than, butadapted when the cover is in place to register with, slot H in shell [2, thus leaving a single opening in the side of housing [2, l5 for a purpose to appear hereafter.

A pair of locking plates or members l8 and H! are mounted in housing l2, I5 and adapted to grip rod l l to prevent relative movement between said rod and housingin either direction, said plates being so constructed as to insure proper locking action and to facilitate the reinsertion of rod ll if the latter is either intentionally or accidentally completely withdrawn from the housing. As illustrated, each of the locking members are identical, and only one will be described in detail. Member l8, for example, comprises a circular plate having a central opening with a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of rod ii and through which the latter is adapted to extend. The proper variation in these diameters is a function of the thickness of plate l8 and the diameter of rod II. The difference should ordinarily be such as to permit said plate to be tilted at an angle of substantially five degrees to the axis of the rod.

A peripheral flange 20 is provided, as by stamping or pressing, on members I. and i9; thus mak- 10 ing the latter cup-shaped. Extending laterally from the outer edgeo'i said flange is a mg or arm 2| adapted to extend through slots I4 and II, the

width of said lug being somewhat greater, however, than the width of slot i4. There are two diametrically disposed slots-in arm 2| into which the vertical edges of slot I extend (Fig. 2) to thereby hold members l8 and I9 against'lateral movement, the width of the slots in arms 2| being slightly wider, however, than the thickness of the 0 walls of shell l2 in order that the locking member I 8 may be pivotally moved about the lower edge of slot H as a fulcrum, and member I! about the inner edge of slot i! in cover II. The outer ends of arms 2| are preferably bent to extend in a direction opposite to that of flange 20 to an extent such that the outer surface of cover IE will act as a stop for said arms when the plane of the faces of plates i8 and i9 are at right angles to the axis of rod ll. When the locking members are in this latter position, rod l I will be free to move through the central openings in said members.

When plates l8 and I! are sufllciently tilted at an angle to the axis of rod ii, the latter will be gripped by said plates and frictlonally held against movement relative thereto. For the purpose .of

yieldingly holding plates I8 and I 9 in gripping po- 7 sition, the same are placed in housing l2, IS with the flange 20 of one extending toward the other, thus forming a recess for positioning a spring 22 surrounding rod Ii. By this novel construction, spring 22 is held centrally of housing l2, l5 when rod i lis wholly withdrawn, thus insuring that the rod may be reassembled without the slightest difllculty.

Normally, therefore, locking members l8 and I9 are held in a tilted position by spring 22, the walls of the openings in said members engaging the sides of rod i I. The latter is thus held against upward movement by member I! and against downward movement by member I! when said members are in the positions shown in Fig. 1. When pressure is applied to the outer end of arm 2| of either or both of the locking members, said arms will move to engagement with the outer surface of cover i5, whereby the movement of plates l8 and i9 is limited to a position substantially perpendicular to the axis of rod II. The latter will then be permitted to move in either or both directions as the case may be. For exampie, if member is is alone moved to unlocking position, rod I I may be moved upwardly, since spring 22 will yield under the pressure thus exerted'by the rod against member l8, but it will be locked against downward movement by said latter member. The reverse is true if member I! isalone moved to unlocking position. In the latter case, however, a slight pressure must be applied to rod I l to overcome the action of spring 22 on member IS in order to move said rod downwardly, thus preventing the unrestrained falling of the rod and apparatus mounted thereon when the same is released for downward movement. A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6 wherein the locking device comprises a shell or housing member 22 similar in outline to shell l2 but provided with a pair of diametrically disposed slots 24 and 25. A cover 26, having an opening for rod ii, is provided for closing the open end oi shell 23. Said cover has an internal shoulder 21 adapted to engage the outer edge of shell 23 and a slot 28 adapted to register with slot 25 of shell 28. Slot 24 constitutes a recess in the inner wall of the housing 22, 26.

A pair of locking members 29 and 20, the central portions of which are cup-shaped and which are each provided with a peripheral flange II, are mounted within housing 28, 2B and adapted to engage rod II to hold the same against movement relative to supporting member II). A pair 01' diametrically disposed arms 32 and 33 extend radially from the outer edge of flange II on each of said locking members. Arms 22 are bent to a position substantially parallel to flange 3i and serve as pivots for the locking members, the end of one of said arms being held against the inner edge of slot 24 as a fulcrum, and the other against shoulder 21 by means of spring 22. The latter surrounds rod II and is interposed between and positioned by members 29 and I0.

Arms 33 extend through the opening in housing 23, 26 provided by the registration of slots 2! and 28 and constitute means for moving locking members 29 and 30 against the pressure of spring 22 to unlocked position. For the purpose of limiting the movement of the members 29 and 30 to a position perpendicular to rod II, a pair of lugs or stops 34 are provided on the vertical walls of slot 25 between arms a. The portions of the latter within shell 23 are somewhat wider than slot 25 in order to prevent lateral movement of members 29and 30 and to thus maintain the various openings through which rod ii extends in substantial alignment when the latter is withdrawn, spring 22 being held in the proper position by flanges 3| on said members.

The operation of theembodiment of Fig. 4 is quite similar to that pointed out in connection with Fig. 1, locking members 29 and Ill corresponding to members I! and I8 respectively. To

release rod I i for movement, either or both of the arms 33 are moved against stops 84, depending upon the direction of movement desired.

There is thus provided a novel locking device which overcomes the difliculties and disadvantages of similar devices heretofore provided. The number of parts is minimized and said parts are so constructed as to facilitate assembly and disassembly. The pleasing appearance and ease of' operation rendered possible bythe novel construction herein provided render the use of devices of this character practical in many flelds in which the principle of operation could not be heretofore employed because of the impracticability of the existing devices embodying it. Adjustment can be quickly effected, without danger of sticking or chattering of the parts. This is particularly desirable in adjusting a microphone such as is shown in Fig. 3. In making an adjustment with the device shown in Fig. l, the operator preferably stands on the side of the device opposite to member 2i and presses the latter with his fingers against'housing l2, II.

Although only two embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be expressly understood that the samels not limited thereto. For example, tube It and rod il may be of other than circular cross-section and the rod may constitute the supporting or stationary member, if desired. Various other changes may likewise be made in the design and arrangement of parts illustrated as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Reference will be had primarly to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention. 1

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a supporting member, a rod movable relative thereto, and locking means mounted on said supporting member for normally holding said rod against movement relative thereto, said means comprising a housing having an opening in the side thereof, a pair of cup-shaped locking members in said housing adapted to releasably engage said rod for holding the same against movement relative to the supporting member, and resilient means for normally holding said locking members in holding position, said last-named means being retained in position by said cup-shaped locking members, the latter having portions extending exteriorly oi the housing and engaging the opposed edges of said opening whereby the locking members may be moved to non-holding position, said edges constituting fulcrums for said locking members, and means for limiting the movement of the latter against the efforts of said resilient means.

2. In apparatus or the class described, a housing, a member slidably extending through said housing, a pair of locking members pivotally mounted 'in said housing and adapted to engage said slidable member to hold tlle'latter against movement in either direction relative to said housing, means independent of said slidable member for positioning said locking members in said housing, resilient means surrounding said slidable member-tor normally holding said locking members in looking engagement therewith, said locking members having flange means thereon for positioning said resilient means independently oi said rod, and means exterior of said housing for moving said locking members to inoperative position.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a housing, an element slidably extending into said housing, a pair of locking members adapted to hold said element against movement relative to said housing, pivot means for said members including arms thereon and a recess in the inner wall of the housing, said arms being adapted to extend into and engage the walls of said recess, said housing having an opening opposite said recess, a radially extending arm on each of said locking members projecting through said housing opening, a spring in said housing and surrounding said slidable element for normally holding said looking members in locking position, and means for limiting the movement of said locking members toward inoperative position.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a.l1ousing having a plurality of openings therein, an element slidably extending into said ,housing through one 01' said openings, a pair of locking members adapted to hold said element against movement relative to said housing, pivot means for said members including a recess in the inner wall of said housing and arms on said members adapted to engage the walls of said recess, an arm on each of said locking members projecting through one of saidopenings whereby said memhere may be pivotally moved to inoperative position, a spring in said housing for normally holding said locking members in looking position, said locking members having flange means thereon for positioning said spring, and stops on said housing for limiting the movement of said secondnamed arms in the direction for moving said locking members to inoperative position against the action of said spring.

ERIC J. PlLBLAD. 

